Sparkline’s CEO and founder hopes that all women will embrace failure as a valuable and brave learning experience.
Over the years, the tech industry has been primarily dominated by males, and gender stereotyping against females with outdated views has been rampant, especially when it comes to academics such as maths and science.
However, Aleetza Senn, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Sparkline is no stranger to gender discrimination within the tech industry and has overcome significant challenges in rising to leadership positions.
She was one of Google’s first employees in Australia and was pivotal in shaping the digital landscape. She was also the YouTube representative for APAC.
After nearly a decade at Google, she founded Sparkline, a leading Singapore-based digital analytics consultancy that became one of Asia’s first certified partners and resellers of Google Marketing Platform (GMP).
Aleetza’s experience with Google was also fundamental in founding and growing Sparkline, reinforcing the value of collaboration over individual ownership in problem-solving.
She strongly believes in a flat working culture where everyone, whether a new graduate or a seasoned professional, can share challenges and ideas, and everyone’s input is valued.
In addition, being successful in tech would also require creativity and storytelling, which are skills often associated with softer, more nuanced abilities. These skills are key to empowering the next generation of women to pursue careers in tech and entrepreneurship.
Nonetheless, her advice for women considering a career in tech or entrepreneurship is to build networks, seek advice from experts, and embrace failure as a valuable and brave learning experience.
“My strongest recommendation is to adopt a test-and-learn approach,” said Ms Aleetza Senn, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Sparkline. “Finding someone in your field with experience and expertise to lean on for advice is a great starting point.”
Senn added that success also depends on various factors, such as the industry, the level of competition, and the demand for products and services outside specific markets.
By conducting thorough research on your industry, market maturity, potential competition, and partnerships, competitors can sometimes become great allies through creative collaboration that could benefit both parties.
Women leaders have been a growing trend over the past few years, with more women taking the helm of companies and practising entrepreneurship.
For instance, paper artist Pei Li co-founded PeiPer Arts School, which encourages children to embrace imperfections, celebrate small wins, and find joy in the journey of artistic exploration.
In addition, psychologist Sha-En Yeo founded Happiness Scientists, which takes a two-step approach to addressing barriers to joy and well-being.
Firstly, they create a safe space for individuals to reflect on their experiences and understand themselves. Secondly, utilise tools and strategies from positive psychology to equip individuals with skills to address the barriers.
Building on the momentum, Sparkline’s recent acquisition by Ayudante, a leading Japanese firm in digital analytics, is also a testament to the company’s ability to thrive in a competitive market while attracting international interest and investment.
by Winn Chew / August 19, 2024
Source : https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/interviews/sparkline-aleetza-senn-tech-trailblazer/
